Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degree) at Portland State University

Median Earnings (1yr)

$49,696

46th percentile

Median Debt

$25,460

4% below national median

Analysis

Portland State's HR program stands out as a strong in-state option, outperforming 60% of Oregon HR programs despite starting just below the national median for first-year earnings. The real story here is the earnings trajectory: graduates see their income jump 31% by year four, reaching nearly $65,000—well above typical early-career HR salaries. With only three programs in Oregon to choose from, Portland State's combination of modest debt ($25,460) and solid earning potential makes it the clear value leader for Oregon residents.

The debt picture is particularly manageable. At just over half of first-year earnings, graduates can realistically pay down their loans while building their careers. Portland State serves a significant population of Pell grant recipients (40%), yet still delivers competitive outcomes, suggesting the program effectively prepares students from diverse economic backgrounds for professional HR roles. The high admission rate means access isn't a barrier for students ready to commit to the work.

For Oregon families, this is straightforward: if your child wants to study HR and plans to work in-state, Portland State offers the best combination of accessibility, reasonable debt, and earning potential available locally. The earnings growth pattern indicates graduates are securing positions with advancement opportunity, not dead-end jobs. Just don't expect immediate high salaries—the value builds over the first few years of your career.

Where Portland State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all human resources management and services bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Portland State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Portland State University	$49,696	$64,967	+31%
Cornell University	$73,436	$94,446	+29%
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	$82,714	$92,289	+12%
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia	$58,528	$83,008	+42%
George Washington University	$57,219	$81,557	+43%

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Human Resources Management and Services bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Portland State UniversityPortland	$11,238	$49,696	$64,967	$25,460	0.51
Benedictine UniversityLisle	$34,290	$83,475	$70,999	$31,872	0.38
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor	$17,228	$82,714	$92,289	$14,225	0.17
Northwestern UniversityEvanston	$65,997	$82,255	—	$38,832	0.47
Walsh UniversityNorth Canton	$34,595	$80,566	—	$29,812	0.37
Waldorf UniversityForest City	$25,220	$77,897	$68,524	$32,111	0.41
National Median	—	$50,361	—	$26,625	0.53

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with human resources management and services graduates

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Labor Relations Specialists

Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.

$93,500/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Law Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Coroners

Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Portland State University, approximately 40% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 165 graduates with reported earnings and 153 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.